Why was PatientsLikeMe founded?

In 1999, Stephen Heywood was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) at the age of 29. Inspired by Stephen’s experiences with the disease, his brothers, Ben and Jamie, and long-time family friend, Jeff Cole, came up with the idea for a community of patients, doctors, and organizations that inspires, informs, and empowers individuals. The company launched its first beta community for ALS in March 2006. You can learn more about our mission, values and history here.